This page relates “acquisition of sons by shrikrishna (shri krishna)” as found in the Shiva-purana, which, in Hinduism, represents one of the eighteen Mahapuranas. This work eulogizes Lord Shiva as the supreme deity, besides topics such as cosmology and philosophy. It is written in Sanskrit and claims to be a redaction of an original text consisting of 100,000 metrical verses.

Chapter 1 - Acquisition of sons by Śrīkṛṣṇa (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

1. Obeisance to the lord whose chest is marked by the saffron from the plump pair of breasts of Gaurī and who causes the entire world whirl like a wheel.

Sūta said:—

2-4. After narrating how Upamanyu attained favours from the lord. Vāyu got up for the routine observances when the sun reached the middle of the sky. All the sages, the residents of the Naimiṣa forest, resolved within themselves what topic should be asked. After performing their duties as usual, they saw that the lord Vāyu was coming and so sat waiting for him.

5. At the end of the observance of the daily routine lord Vāyu occupied his assigned seat in the middle of the assembly of the sages.

6. Vāyu, saluted by all the worlds, comfortably seated himself in the seat. Keeping well in his mind the glorious prosperity of the lord, he spoke thus.

7. “I resort to that great lord, the unvanquished and the omniscient whose prosperity and glory constitute the universe consisting of the mobile and immobile beings.

8. On hearing the auspicious statement the sages of quelled sins spoke these words in order to hear further the details of the lord’s glory.

The sages said:—

9-11. O lord, you have already mentioned the details of Upamanyu of noble soul, how he attained various favours from the supreme lord by means of the penance performed for the sake of milk. Formerly, we had heard that this elder brother of Dhaumya was met by Śrīkṛṣṇa of unstrained activities, son of Vasudeva. Then Kṛṣṇa performed the Pāśupatavrata and attained perfect knowledge. How did lord Kṛṣṇa attain the perfect knowledge of Paśupati?

Vāyu said:—

12. Vāsudeva, the eternal god, had taken his incarnation out of his own free will. Still he performed the purificatory rites for his body thereby indicating that the human body is worthy of censure.

13. He went to the great sage’s hermitage resorted to by other sages, in order to perform a penance for the sake of sons. There he saw the sage Upamanyu.

14-15. The sage had great splendour all over his body being rendered white due to the Bhasma smeared over. His forehead was marked with Tripuṇḍras. He was bedecked in resories of stringed Rudrākṣa beads. The clustered malted hair embellished him. He was surrounded by sages who were his disciples, just as the Veda is surrounded by the scriptural texts. He was calm and engaged in meditation on Śiva.

16. On seeing him hairs stood on their ends in the body of Kṛṣṇa due to delight. Respectfully he circumambulated him thrice and knelt before him. With shoulders drooping and palms joined in reverence he delightfully eulogised him.

17. At the mere vision of the sage, all dirt born of Māyā and Karman of Kṛṣṇa was quelled.

18-19. When the dirt of Kṛṣṇa had been quelled, Upamanyu dusted him with Bhasma repeating the Mantras “Agniriti”[1] etc. He was then made to perforin the PāśupataVrata lasting for twelve months. Then the sage imparted to him the excellent knowledge.

20. Since then the divine Pāśupata sages of duly completed rites surrounded him.

21. Then at the behest of his preceptor, Kṛṣṇa of great prowess performed penance for the attainment of a son with Śiva and Pārvatī as the deity aimed at.

22. Due to that penance, at the end of a year, lord Śiva, equipped with great splendour and accompanied by his Gaṇas and Pārvatī appeared there.

23. After bowing to Śiva of handsome features, who appeared before him for granting boons, Kṛṣṇa eulogised him with palms joined in reverence.

24. Kṛṣṇa of composed mind obtained his son Samba of good qualities bequeathed by Śiva who was delighted by his penance.

25. Since it was Śiva accompanied by Ambā, who blessed him with a son, he named Jāmbavatī’s son Sāmba.

26. Thus I have narrated to you how Kṛṣṇa of wide activities attained knowledge from the great sage and a son from Śiva.

27. He who recites this everyday, listens to it or narrates it to others attains Viṣṇu’s wisdom and rejoices with him.